Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Michigan
$52,280avg. a year
$25.14 an hour · 4,020 employed
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Michigan earn an average of $52,280 a year. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $52,820. The best-paying metro area is South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI at $55,580.
$51,030Median pay
$25.14Average hourly
+24%Avg. pay since 2020
#20Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Michigan metro areas
Average pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
1100 jobs
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
$55,580
$26.72 an hour
2340 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$53,060
$25.51 an hour
3260 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$52,760
$25.37 an hour
41,900 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$52,730
$25.35 an hour
5250 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$52,640
$25.31 an hour
640 jobs
Saginaw, MI
$52,440
$25.21 an hour
7200 jobs
Monroe, MI
$48,970
$23.54 an hour
860 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
$48,810
$23.46 an hour
990 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$48,520
$23.33 an hour
10170 jobs
Flint, MI
$48,210
$23.18 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay in Michigan, charted
Pay over time
Michigan, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Michigan refuse and recyclable material collectors work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Michigan highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $45k$45k–$50k$50k–$55k$55k+Michigan
Michigan vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $52,820 | $25.39 |
| Michigan | $52,280 | $25.14 |
| Wisconsin | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Indiana | $54,930 | $26.41 |
| Ohio | $49,990 | $24.04 |
Related jobs in Michigan
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$41,230
- Stockers and Order Fillers$38,170
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$48,860
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,950
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,550
- Crane and Tower Operators$68,230
Average pay, Michigan, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Michigan?
The average is $52,280 a year, and the median is $51,030. That is about the same as the U.S. average of $52,820.
What is the hourly wage in Michigan?
$25.14 an hour on average; the median is $24.53.
Where in Michigan do they earn the most?
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ($55,580), followed by Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ($53,060). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Flint, MI ($48,210).
How does Michigan rank?
Michigan ranks #20 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 53-7081. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national refuse and recyclable material collectors page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.